Beauty Myths

Beauty Myth #1: Plucking white hairs yields more white hairs.

This is definitely just a beauty myth! Our hair whitens as part of the natural process of aging and some of us see our hair begin turning white earlier than expected and earlier than those around us. It only seems to us that we are having more and more gray hair after we see the first strand, because our mind is now trained to pinpoint any gray hair that exists. Therefore, we're more likely to notice the white hairs.

Beauty Myth #2: Shaving the hair makes it grow back thicker. 

This is definitely a beauty myth, too. Shaved hair seems to grow back thicker only because when we shave, the razor cuts the hair off only on the skin's surface. The hairs were not plucked off directly from the follicle. Therefore, when the hair grows back, the wide part of the strand grows out, making the hair appear thicker. 

Beauty Myth #3: Mayonnaise makes for a great conditioner. 

No, this one is not a myth. Mayonnaise, as long as it is real, does make for a great hair conditioner! The oil and eggs that can be found in real mayonnaise is rich in fatty acids and protein that nourishes the hair.

Beauty Myth #4: Applying ice to the skin makes pores smaller. 

Nothing can make the pores smaller. They can appear smaller, but in reality they are not. The size of our pores is the result of genetics, not of the temperature applied on the skin, so some people just have smaller (or larger) pores than others. 

Beauty Myth #5: Toothpaste can cure pimples.

Actually, yes it can! Toothpaste has menthol and other active ingredients that can dry up a pimple and make it heal much more quickly than if left alone. However, the same active ingredients in toothpaste that can heal a pimple can also dry up and irritate the skin of your face, so its better to use a pimple cream rather than toothpaste for your pimple. 

Beauty Myth #6: Applying beer on the skin before going for a sun tan results in a golden glow.

No, not true. In fact, you should avoid sun tanning altogether, unless you are going to use a self-tanner. Applying beer before going for a tan does not do anything for the skin. Some people are just prone to getting a golden tan, while others naturally turn red as a lobster under the sun. It is, again, a matter of genetics. 

Beauty Myth #7: Crossing your legs leads to varicose veins.

Not really. The true causes of varicose veins are yet unknown, but again, some people are more prone to having them because of factors like heredity, age and weight. Crossing your legs will not cause you to have varicose veins, but if you already have them, it can make the condition worse.  

Beauty Myth #8: Washing your feet when you're tired will make the veins swell. 

The veins in our feet swell when the feet are tired. It is the body's own automatic attempt to soothe the tiredness. In fact, it is indeed best to soak the feet in warm water to further increase the blood circulation to your lower extremities, so as to take the tiredness away.  

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Jesus and the Sinful Woman

As I read the passage for today, in my Beth Moore study, I'm again in awe of just how powerful the love of Christ is!
Luke 7:36-50 tells a story of Jesus being invited to dine with a Pharisee. As the men are reclining after dinner, a sinful woman from the local town walks unannounced, into the house.
Let me set the stage before I go on.
In Christ's day, cities resembled small villages or settlements more so than a large metropolis. Thus, gossip spread like wild fire. Everyone seemed to know the going's on of others within the settlement. A small community increases the risk of one being judged for his/her actions and being anonymous is not likely to happen. The shame that is put upon someone only magnifies the hurt and often tightens the chains of bondage. Sometimes it's easier to break free from the behavior than it is the disapproval of those living around you.
The woman in the story, walks in and kneels behind Jesus. She is sobbing and her tears are falling on Jesus' feet. All the while, she's wiping off her tears with her hair and kissing His feet, over and over again. She then takes an alabaster jar filled with perfume and pours it on Jesus' feet, continuing to wipe His feet with her hair.
The Pharisee is appalled! He mumbles to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is-that she is a sinner."
You see, this Pharisee is placing wrongful judgement upon this woman. Yes, she has sinned, probably in ways the Pharisee has yet to imagine, but let he who hath no sin, cast the first stone.  You know the saying, if you point one finger at someone, you have three pointing right back at you? I think that saying is fitting for this part of the story.
Jesus holds the Pharisee accountable by explaining that he didn't anoint Jesus, nor did the Phariseet wash Jesus' feet before He entered the home (a courtesy extended to guests because sandaled feet got very dirty), but the woman did all of that and with very expensive perfume. The Pharisee didn't greet Jesus with a kiss either, but the woman, while she was sobbing, was kissing Jesus' feet and wiping them with her hair.
Did this Pharisee think he was too good to treat Jesus in a respectable manner? Did he think his sins were not as serious as the sins of the woman?

I'd like to quote Beth Moore, "... dirt is dirt..." (referencing sin)"... and we've all got it no matter where we come from. I'm not sure Christ sees one kind of dirt as dirtier than another. One thing is for sure: His blood is able to bleach any stain left by any kind of dirt."

The Pharisee probably didn't sleep around or take bribes or externalize his depravity, but he also didn't greet Jesus with a holy kiss, anoint Him with oil/perfume, nor gave Jesus water for His feet. But the woman did.
We are commanded in Mark 12:30, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with our strength and with all our mind. This is exactly what the sinful woman did.
At the end of this story, Jesus says to the woman, "Your sins are forgiven... Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Only those who realize the depth of their sin can appreciate the complete forgiveness God offers them.
After all the ridicule and shame this woman had endured, she can now go on her way, peacefully, knowing her God has forgiven her sins.
Are you living in your past, feeling the load of shame from your sins on your shoulders? Release them to the One who shed His blood on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins. Know in your heart that you have been forgiven and walk in peace.

Thoughts....

I'm currently in the midst of doing another Beth Moore Bible study, entitled, "Jesus the One and Only." It never ceases to amaze me just how gifted Beth is. The way she brings the scriptures alive and how practical she makes it all seem, is so refreshing and makes me crave the Word even more!
Each day we have a daily lesson and at the end of the week, some wonderful ladies and I get together and listen to Beth teach about what we've just studied. Yesterday's study was "Compassion Without Restraint" and let me tell you, she pictured for me an entirely unique side of Jesus that I had never considered before.
To me, Jesus is love, compassion, power, knowledge and so much more than my little mind can even begin to describe. In John 7, Jesus has come on the scene and is doing a lot of healing and working of miracles. One that really struck me is captured in verses 11-17.
After healing a centurion's servant, Jesus comes to the city of Nain along with his disciples and a large group of people. As he approaches the city gate, a funeral procession is passing him by. Because His omniscience, Jesus knows that this dead person is the only son of the grieving mother, who is also a widow.
Now picture this with me, Jesus is walking along a dusty road, chatting it up with those following Him. He looks up and sees this mother crying and agonizing over the death of her one and only child. She most likely has other family members walking along with her who also feel her pain and are mourning right along with her.
Jesus, feels her pain, too, because he walks over to the woman, and says to her, "Don't cry." Can you see the compassion? Can you feel His heart hurting for the pain the woman is going through? To me, this exemplifies just how human Christ was.
After He comforts her, He touches the coffin and tells the young man to "...get up.!" Before I go on, let me tell you that Jesus was defiling Himself. Unless someone was directly involved in shrouding the body with burial linens, touching a dead body was a HUGE no-no!
Picture the pallbearers facial expressions as the funeral platform began to move. I would have most likely screamed and let the stretcher drop to the ground!
Jesus casts off all self restraint and reacts to the woman's pain. I'd like to quote Beth Moore, because she paints a much better picture than I can.

Speaking about the woman... "She exhibited no faith. In fact, we have no idea 

if the grieving mom even realized Christ existed. She was probably too 

enveloped in her own agony to notice. He awaited no conditions

nor apparently had any intention of using the 

moment for instructional purposes. 

Jesus ran into a woman in hopeless despair and just reacted

with what came most naturally to Him: healing mercy."

How profound is the love Jesus showered on this woman! How much more profound is the love He has for us? 

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.